In December, we reported that the Honda Ridgeline and Mercedes R-Class were honored as “Urban” car and truck of the year by On Wheels. Yesterday, the winners of all of the 2006 Urban Wheel Awards were announced at a ceremony during the Detroit auto show. Ford was named “Company of the Year” for its diverse workforce. Other categories include African American, Asian and Hispanic Executives of the Year, Urban Car and Truck of the Year, Diversity Automotive Advertisements of the Year, Minority Automotive Supplier of the Year and Automotive Company of the Year. This year, On Wheels, Inc. added the first-ever Motorsports Award. The first honor went to NASCAR for its leadership in the industry and its many diversity initiatives.
The winners:
- DaimlerChrysler’s Kim Harris Jones was the company’s first African-
American vice president and is the winner in the African-
American executive category. - Asian executive winner, Hau Thai Tang became a leader in developing
exciting new products for Ford Motor Company, and led the design and
development of the critically acclaimed 2005 Mustang program. - Hispanic executive winner, Grace Lieblein is General Motors’ first and
highest ranking Latino Vehicle Engineer. - Tri-Tec, supplier to Ford, won the 2006 Urban Wheel Awards Minority Supplier of the Year.
- The 2006 Urban Wheel Awards Company of the Year went to Ford Motor
Company. “With a diverse workforce of 25%, Ford’s Vision for Diversity and
Work life is to create an inclusive environment that leverages diversity to
create high performing teams and organizations.” - Via online voting, the public chose Carol H. Williams Advertising Agency
for its GMC Truck – “Poetry in Motion” Envoy Denali commercial for the 2006
African-American Diversity Automotive Advertisement of the Year. - Accentmarketing Agency received the honor in the Latino category for its
Pontiac – “50 Most Beautiful People” Diversity Automotive Advertisement of the
Year. - Lastly, AdAsia USA Agency received the honor for its “Subaru Tribeca”
Asian Diversity Automotive Advertisement of the Year.
In its tenth year, the event was hosted by acclaimed actor and comedian, Sinbad.
Film and television actors Vivica A. Fox and Bokeem Woodbine also participated
as presenters at the automotive industry’s “Academy Awards”-like show.
The Urban Wheel Awards is produced and hosted by On Wheels, Inc.,
publishers of African Americans On Wheels, Asians On Wheels and Latinos On
Wheels magazines. The publications are distributed in more than 80 newspapers
in the US, with a combined readership of 5 million.
